Known originally as "The Creators", the group were out of "New Jersey".

Telling a tale of the "Great Northeast Blackout" of 1965, which left "New York" in total darkness for a night.

A floor shaking oldie which was also released on "Eskee" records.

The Ad Libs - Nothing Worse Than Being Alone

"The Adlibs" were, Hugh Harris, Danny Austin, Dave Watt, Norman Donegan and Marry Ann Thomas, and of course their best known 45 is "The Boy From New York City" but after leaving "Blue Cat" they joined Van McCoy's "Share" records where they cut this all time classic.

Played from the time of the "Twisted Wheel", this is more popular than ever now.

This 1967 number is a sheer joy to listen to and especially to dance to.

The Chambers Brothers - I Can't Turn You Lose

Hailing out of "Mississippi", the group consisted of four brothers, Joe, Willie, Lester and George Chambers.

The above release is from 1968 and reached number 37 in the US charts.

It is a rousing cover of the "Otis Redding" classic which is a very long track for the year at 4:50.

The Persians - I Can't Take It Anymore

Released in 1970, this was written by Ray Dahrouge, who later went on to write one of the all time great Northern Soul Tracks for "The Anderson Brothers" on "GSF".

"The Persians" did record a couple of other tracks for this label, but in my humble opinion this is the best of them all.

A great oldie, which has never had any prolonged exposure, maybe a little light weight to some ears, but still a nice 45 to own and enjoy, just ask my old "Mukka" Col Wheldrake.

The Fuller Brothers - Time's A Wastin / Moaning Groaning And CryingWhen they recorded this track, Major and Erskin Fuller gave the Northern Soul crowd one of the all time greats.A big spin at "The Golden Torch", this will still pack the floor at any oldies night.Just hearing the first "Hey Hey Brother" and a rush to the dance floor ensues, a total classic."Moaning Groaning And Crying" was the flip side , and it was also released on "Keymen" records.

"Moanin" has always been over looked due to the greatness of "Time's A Wastin", , but it is a great thumping track in it's own right

Inez And Charlie Foxx - You Fixed My Heartache / Baby Give It To Me

"Ike and Tina Turner" sound a like brother and sister duo "Inez & Charlie Foxx" recorded some essential 45's for any collection.

I have listed a couple of their other tracks on here already, but this one was over looked until being tipped by Tim Brown as a US released disc only, well it did get a UK release on "President" (left), and the rarer Canadian "Columbia" release (right).

"You Fixed My Heartache" is a great stomping oldie which has finally become a firm favourite.

"Baby Give It To Me" is a great soul record which I include because for many years I preferred it.

The Friendly People - I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Instrumental

VMP = Van McCoy Productions, he isn't credited on the label, but he wouldn't have been too far away.

This was a late "Wigan Casino" spin, but it never really took off, so it is still quite unknown to a lot of people.The lead singer has a great voice, and I wonder if he recorded anything else?Although the vocal is great, it is the Instrumental which gets to me, you can really hear how good the musicians are.

A great one to spin at your local oldies night."The Friendly People" also recorded a great upbeat version of Sam Cooke's classic "You Send Me" on "VMP", so look out for that one too.

Sharon Soul - Girl Crazy

Sharon "Soul" Seiger recorded "You Found My Weak Spot " for "Coral" records and "How Can I Get To You" for "Wild Deuce" records, both of which have received plays on The Northern Scene over the years, but this recording stayed in the can until "Goldmine" released this UK 45 a few years ago.

I love the un finished feeling to recordings such as this one, if you close you eye's, you could almost imagine yourself in the studio while the session is in progress.

A great dancer.

Barbara Mercer - Happiness Is Here"Barbara Mercer" recorded one of my favourite Detroit 45's "Hey" for "Golden World", but I think she may have got lost in Berry Gordy's buy out of the label, because I cant find out much about her after that.

"Happiness" was released by "Tobi (Legend) Lark" on "Topper" records, but Barbara's take on it is much lighter, and is just as good as the original.

That backing track is just amazing, and it sounds very much like some of "The Funk Brothers" are moonlighting again.

Just an excellent double sided 45.

Little Carl Carlton - Competition Ain't Nothin'

Carl Carlton was born in Detroit and was given the "Little moniker to copy the then "Little Stevie Wonder" gimmick.

He recorded for "Lando" and "Golden World" records in Detroit, before moving to Texas after signing a contract with "John Robey's" "Back Beat" records.

It was during this time that her recorded the above all time "Northern Soul" classic.

This is one of the first 45's that I desperately wanted, I couldn't sleep because I wanted this so much, I had it on a tape, and I played that until it just about wore out.

When I finally managed to pick up a copy I was like a "Dog With Two Dicks".

Watson And The Sherlocks - Standing On The Corner / Funky WalkI remember buying this great double sided 45 from a stall on Doncaster market in the early 1980's and I was attracted by the great looking label, but when I got it home and played it, I was a little disappointed.Recently I have found myself playing this quite often and the flip "Funky Walk" get's the preference.Both sides are written by "Joe Moore & Jesse Herring", and both track's don't sound a million miles away from the kind of work "Wilson Pickett" was putting out at the time, e.g. "She's Looking Good".

Me thinks that "Funky Walk" would go down very well with the Mod's.Excellent stuff indeed.

Verdelle Smith - A Piece Of The Sky

It is very difficult to find out any information about Verdelle, apart from that at the time of writing, she lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Verdelle had a number 38 US hit in 1966 with "Tar And Cement" but if you flip that 45 over, you will find this beautiful beat ballad.

There is a rarer version of this by "Tasha Thomas" but I don't think it adds anything to this original.

The story of city living and dreaming of being far away from the over crowding.

A song I never tire of hearing.

Instrumental - My Darlin

Here we have a B side filler on the back of a slowie by "Diane Lewis" entitled "Please Let Me Love You"

It didn't even get an artist credit, but that is because it is none other than "The Funk Brothers", who were under contract with "Motown" records.

Herman Griffin - Dance TimeThis previously unreleased vocal take was found credited as "Herman Griffin - Dance Time", and the first time I came across it being released was on the above Goldmine CD

"Johnny My Boy" didn't sell, but it was picked up and played on the Northern Soul Scene, and was "Covered Up" at Stafford as "The Magnetics - Maybe Maybe"

This 1975 release is the only UK release for "Johnny" and this copy has the "Rarer" small hole instead of the usual "4 Prong" push out center.

The Impressions - You've Been Cheatin' / Can't Satisfy

Starting out life as "The Roosters" in Tennessee, it wasn't until a name change and a move to Chicago that "The Impressions" found success.

At their peak, and at the time of these recordings, the members were Fred Cash, Sam Gooden and the legendary Curtis Mayfield."You've Been Cheatin" must have been played at just about every soul night since the day it was released, it epitomises the term "Timeless Classic".

"Can't Satisfy" is another classic side, which "Borrows" heavily from the Isley's "This Old Heart Of Mine".

Either side is an essential part of any collection, and I include this on here mainly so that I can dedicate "You've Been Cheatin" to my old mate Dek Carver. (He'll kill me for that).

The Holidays - Makin' Up Time / I'll Love You Forever

The line up of "The Holidays" seems to have been quite fluid, with members being just about anyone who was available at the time, but on "I'll Love You Forever" the members were Maurice Tony Gray, Tony Hester, Willie “Butch” Jackson and Robert “Earl” Johnson, and Edwin Starr.

"I'll Love You Forever" is a prime example of the type of street level music being produced in Detroit during the sixties."Makin' Up Time" is a cracking instrumental which has been held back by being readily available, otherwise if it was rare it would be a monster oldie Ala "Bari Track".

The musicians on this must have been mainly "The Funk Brothers", and is one of the reasons Berry Gordy bought the label to stop them "Moonlighting" while under contract with Motown.

Joe Adams / Lawson James - I've Been Kissed BeforeThe artist name printed on the label is "Lawson James" but the record company put "Joe Adams" stickers over the name, so I have no Idea Who is really giving such a fine vocal performance on this old "Stafford" biggie.

Did the printers get the name wrong? or was it some publishing problem?

A big voiced 45 with a good following.The Royal Premiers - I Can Make It If I Try

I can't find out any thing about this male vocal group, other than one other release on the "Toy" label.

This was first spun at the "Top Of The World" all nighters in Stafford in the early/mid 80's.

A great mid tempo track with tight vocals make this a memorable disc.

excellent stuff.

The C.O.D.'s - Michael

"The C.O.D.'s" were, Larry Brownlee, Robert Lewis and Carl Washington.

This was usually the last record played whenever the late great "Mighty Bub" DJ'ed.

He played it as a tribute to his friend "Mick Cook" who died on the way to Cleethorpes.

This was one of the first records I bought at a Nighter in Brighouse civic hall in the early 80's, after falling in love with it courtesy of "Mr Buttle".

A record which was a hit at the time, and it saw releases over seas, the UK Stateside 45 provided the early club scene "Twisted Wheel" e.t.c. with an instant big play.